Real gangster Snoop

Snoop Dogg is still a member of a notorious Los Angeles street gang, according to police.

Police claim to have discovered the 35-year-old singer is still involved with the Crips gang - an American criminal group that is heavily involved with illegal activities such as crack cocaine dealing.

Police Sergeant Kevin Grandalski - who is investigating Snoop for drug and firearm possession - is quoted by Britain's The Sun newspaper: "Information developed during this investigation confirmed that Mr Broadus is both a convicted felon and an admitted 'Rollin' 20's Crips' criminal street gang member who continues to associate with other Crips criminal street gang members."

The gangster rapper - real name Calvin Broadus - was arrested for possession of drugs and a firearm outside Los Angeles' NBC studios where he had been filming a performance for 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' on Tuesday (28.11.06).

Snoop was charged and bail was set at $60,000. He is due in court on December 4.

The rapper declared his affiliation to the street gang when he spoke at the funeral of Crips co-founder Stanley 'Tookie' Williams.

'Tookie' was jailed in 1979 for murder and was executed last year despite becoming a reformed peace activist and a strong campaign backed by Snoop to get him off death row.

Other famous rappers associated with the Crips gang include Warren G and Nate Dogg.